President von der Leyen from Skopje: North Macedonia’s place is in the European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to North Macedonia’s European path during her visit to Skopje on 2 October, stressing that the country’s place is within the European family.

As part of her annual tour of the Western Balkans, von der Leyen met with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, reiterating that the European Commission and other EU institutions look forward to welcoming North Macedonia, including Macedonian culture and language, into the European Union.

During her visit, the Commission President praised North Macedonia’s progress under the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and its Reform Agenda, highlighting the country’s efforts to advance reforms and access EU support. She also announced that further EU investments are on the way.

Von der Leyen also highlighted the importance of gradual integration, pointing to the AI Factory Antenna Vezilka in North Macedonia as an example of how the country can already benefit from closer cooperation with the EU and participate in initiatives shaping Europe’s digital future.

Speaking about the enlargement process, von der Leyen stressed that the momentum for EU enlargement is real and should not be missed. She encouraged North Macedonia to continue dialogue with its counterparts in Bulgaria, underlining the importance of moving forward with the next steps in the accession process, including the opening of negotiating clusters and holding the next Intergovernmental Conference.